Dec. 17, 2017, 1:30 p.m.

An Astronomer Looks for the Christmas Star: In this first ever program to be produced entirely by members of the Friends of Arlington's Planetarium, we explore various natural phenomena that could have been the basis for the Biblical account of the Christmas Star. Using the Planetarium's projector, we will travel back in time and space to see the skies of Bethlehem and Judea at the traditional time of the birth of Christ. The audience will be invited to explore the possibilities and vote for the explanation that seems most probable. Along the way, they will discover why some of the celestial events and phenomena that appear from time to time in the nighttime sky inspired both awe and apprehension among ancient peoples, and still do in modern times!

Target Audience: all ages. Running Time: 40 minutes.

Season of Light: One of the most popular shows at the David M. Brown Planetarium, Season of Light is an annual holiday program about the coldest and darkest of seasons - a time which holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year. This multicultural presentation traces the history and development of many of the world's most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season. Audiences learn about a few northern hemisphere winter constellations, discover why we have seasons, observe the Sun's path across the sky throughout the year, and see the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun.

Target Audience: all ages. Running Time: 35 minutes.

Our capacity is 58 seats. We set aside 20 seats to accommodate those who arrive without a reservation, so if the show is sold out you can still try to attend by arriving close to 1 p.m. However, although we will do whatever we can to seat all comers, there is no guarantee of admission without a reservation.